2001 in television
*
January 18 -
Channel 4 launches
E4, a
digital entertainment channel, at 8.15pm.
*
January 22 -
News at Ten returns to
ITV, having been axed two years earlier. It is once again presented by
Trevor McDonald.
*
June 18 -
Luke and Laura Spencer, widely regarded as the
soap opera pairing that helped coin the term "
supercouple", signed divorce papers on
General Hospital, dissolving their fictional two-decade union.
*
July 11 - ONdigital is rebranded
ITV Digital.
*
August 11 - ITV in the
UK changes its name to
ITV1, due to the growing number of other ITV services, including
ITV2,
ITV Digital, and the
ITV Sport Channel, which launches on the same day.
*
September 1 - All four commercial television stations in
Vancouver, British Columbia change network affiliations, the largest such change in a single market in television history.
*
September 7 -
BBC Canada launches in
Canada.
*
September 11 - Viewers around the world witness a
terrorist attack on the
United States, and the collapse of the
Twin Towers in
New York City, live on television. Additionally, the
ABC and
NBC affiliates' broadcast towers are knocked out by the attacks, but New Yorkers can still view them on cable. Most broadcasters abandon regular programming - American networks for more than a week - and numerous major daily
talk shows go off the air for several weeks until their hosts feel comfortable in returning to the airwaves.
**The start of the 2001-
2002 fall season in the US is delayed as a result of the attacks, with some shows such as
The West Wing substituting special episodes dealing with the event in lieu of their originally scheduled season premieres. Some series, such as the military-themed
JAG and New York-based
Third Watch have to be retooled to encompass the aftermath of the attacks.
**In addition, several planned series and events were cancelled; most notably, a mini-series planned for spring 2002, which would have united the cast of
Law & Order,
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and
Law & Order: Criminal Intent, dealing with a terrorist attack on New York City.
*
Concert For New York: A Tribute To Heroes airs on
VH1, with performances by
Paul McCartney,
The Rolling Stones,
The Who,
Billy Joel and others. It raises funds for the families of those killed in the attacks.
**Continually scrolling news headlines along the bottom of the screen are first seen after the
Fox News Channel first used it to allow for viewers to keep track of the latest developments during the attacks. This graphic was soon adapted by all other cable news and some broadcast channels, continuing to this day.
*
November 5 -
BBC 2W, a new
digital channel for
Wales, is launched.
*
November 19 -
BBC Two introduces a new set of four computer generated
idents at 7.00am, replacing the previous set comprised of over 20 (four of which dating back to
1991). ITV2 rebrands on the same day.
*
December 22 - The
pilot for
Harry Hill's TV Burp is aired on ITV1. The first full series is shown from November
next year.
*
Canada rolls out hundreds of new
digital cable channels (see
List of Canadian digital television channels for complete list).
*
Canadian sports network
TSN changes its logo to match with
ESPN's though the
N is not slashed.
*
January 10 -
Grounded for Life premieres on
FOX (2001-2005)
*
January 12 -
Lizzie McGuire premieres on
Disney Channel (2001-
2004).
*
February 3 -
Lloyd In Space premieres on
ABC (2001-2004).
*
March 4 -
The Lone Gunmen premieres on
FOX. The show was cancelled in May.
*
March 28 -
My Wife and Kids premieres on ABC (2001-2005).
*
March 30 -
The Fairly OddParents (2001-present) and
Invader ZIM (2001-
2002) premiere on
Nickelodeon.
*
April 4 -
That's My Bush! premieres on
Comedy Central. The show was cancelled in May.
*
June 2 -
Braceface premieres on
ABC Family (2001-present).
*
June 3 -
Six Feet Under premieres on
HBO (2001-2005).
*
June 11 -
Fear Factor premieres on NBC (2001-present).
*
June 20 -
JR Digs premieres on
CHCH in
Hamilton,
Ontario as a paid advertisement (2001-present).
*
August 11 -
Cubix: Robots for Everyone premieres on
Kids' WB! (2001-2003)
*
August 24 -
Grim and Evil premieres on
Cartoon Network (2001-present).
*
September 2 -
Adult Swim, a line-up on
Cartoon Network, premieres on that channel (2001-present).
*
September 5 -
The Amazing Race premieres on
CBS (2001-present).
*
September 22 -
The Saturday Show premieres on
BBC One (2001-present).
*
September 25 -
The Guardian premieres on CBS (2001-2004).
*
September 26 -
Enterprise premieres on
UPN. The show was run under this name for the first two seasons; then it was renamed
Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-
2005).
*
September 29 -
Yu-Gi-Oh! debuts on
Kids' WB! (2001-2006), along with
The Mummy: The Animated Series (2001-2003) and
The Nightmare Room (2001-2002).
*
September 30 -
Alias premieres on ABC and
CTV (2001-2006).
*September 30 -
Law & Order: Criminal Intent premieres on NBC (2001-present).
*
October 1 -
Reba premieres on
The WB*
October 2 -
Scrubs debuts on NBC (2001-present).
*
October 3 -
According to Jim, starring
James Belushi and
Courtney Thorne-Smith, premieres on ABC (2001-present).
*
October 5 -
Pop Idol premieres in the UK on
ITV1; the talent contest becomes an international phenomenon as dozens of countries crown
their own Idols (2001-2003).
*
October 6 -
Mutant X premieres (2001-2004).
*
October 16 -
Smallville premieres on the
WB (2001-present).
*
November 2 -
Sailor Moon R - The Movie: Promise Of The Rose premieres on
Cartoon Network.
*
November 6 -
24 premieres on
FOX (2001-present).
*
November 9 -
Sailor Moon S - The Movie: Hearts In Ice premieres on
Cartoon Network.
*
November 14 -
The Bernie Mac Show premieres on FOX (2001-present).
*
November 16 -
Sailor Moon SuperS - The Movie: Black Dream Hole premieres on
Cartoon Network.
*
November 17 -
Justice League premieres on
Cartoon Network.
See also 2001-02 United States network television schedule1940s
Meet the Press (
1947-present).
Candid Camera (
1948-present).
1950s
Hallmark Hall of Fame (
1951-present).
Guiding Light (
1952-present).
The Today Show (1952-present).
Panorama (
UK) (
1953-present).
Face the Nation (
1954-present).
The Tonight Show (1954-present).
This Is Your Life (UK) (
1955-
2003).
As the World Turns (
1956-present).
What the Papers Say (UK) (1956-present).
The Sky at Night (UK) (
1957-present).
Blue Peter (UK) (
1958-present).
Grandstand (UK) (1958-present).
1960s
Coronation Street (UK) (
1960-present).
Four Corners (
Australia) (
1961-present).
It's Academic (1961-present).
The Late Late Show (
Ireland) (
1962-present).
General Hospital (
1963-present).
Top of the Pops (UK) (
1964-present).
Days of Our Lives (
1965-present).
Play School (
1966-present).
The Money Programme (UK) (1966-present).
60 Minutes (
1968-present).
One Life to Live (1968-present).
Sesame Street (
1969-present).
1970s
All My Children (
1970-present).
Monday Night Football (1970-present).
Masterpiece Theatre (
1971-present).
Soul Train (1971-present).
Emmerdale (UK) (
1972-present).
Newsround (UK) (1972-present).
The Price Is Right (1972-present).
Last of the Summer Wine (UK) (
1973-present).
The Young and the Restless (1973-present).
Wish You Were Here...? (UK) (
1974-present).
Arena (UK) (
1975-present).
Good Morning America (1975-present).
Saturday Night Live (1975-present).
the fifth estate (Canada) (1975-present).
Wheel of Fortune (1975-present).
20/20 (
1978-present).
Grange Hill (UK) (1978-present).
Antiques Roadshow (UK) (
1979-present).
Nightline (1979-present).
This Old House (1979-present).
1980s
Entertainment Tonight (
1981-present).
What Now (1982-present)
Timewatch (UK) (1982-present)
Jeopardy! (1964-1975,
1984-present).
The Bill (UK) (1984-present).
EastEnders (UK) (
1985-present).
Neighbours (Australia) (1985-present).
Sally (1985-2002).
The Oprah Winfrey Show (
1986-present).
Comic Relief (UK) (1986-present).
Casualty (UK) (1986-present).
Chucklevision (UK) (1987-present).
The Bold and the Beautiful (
1987-present).
America's Most Wanted (1988-present).
The American Experience (1988-present).
Fair City (1988-present).
Home and Away (1988-present).
This Morning (1988-present).
Electric Circus (Canada) (1988-2003).
Cops (
1989-present).
The Simpsons (1989-present).
1990s
Law & Order (
1990-present).
America's Funniest Home Videos (1990-present).
Rugrats (
1991-2004).
The Jerry Springer Show (1991-present).
The Red Green Show (1991-present).
Barney & Friends (
1992-2002).
Dateline NBC (1992-present).
The Real World (1992-present).
Frasier (
1993-2004).
Ricki Lake (1993-2004).
Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-present).
NYPD Blue (1993-2005).
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993-present).
The X-Files (1993-2002).
WWF RAW (1993-present).
ER (
1994-present).
Friends (1994-2004).
Time Team (UK) (1994-present).
Touched by an Angel (1994-2003).
JAG (
1995-present).
Sesame Park (Canada) (1995-2002).
The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004).
7th Heaven (
1996-present).
Dexter's Laboratory (1996-2003).
Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005).
Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).
Judge Judy (1996-present).
Spin City (1996-2002).
The Daily Show (1996-present).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (
1997-2003).
Dharma & Greg (1997-2002).
Family Affairs (UK) (1997-2005).
Johnny Bravo (1997-present).
Just Shoot Me (1997-2003).
King of the Hill (1997-present).
South Park (1997-present).
Stargate SG-1 (1997-present).
The Practice (1997-2004).
The Wonderful World of Disney (1997-present).
Becker (
1998-2004).
Call For Help (1998-2004).
Charmed (1998-present).
Dawson's Creek (1998-2003).
Sex and the City (1998-2004).
SMTV Live (UK) (1998-2003).
That '70s Show (1998-2006).
The King of Queens (1998-2007).
The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2004).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (UK) (1998-present).
Will & Grace (1998-2006).
Angel (
1999-2004).
Family Feud (
1976-1985,
1988-1995,
1999-present).
Family Guy (1999-2002, 2005-present).
Farscape (1999-2003).
Futurama (1999-2003).
Judge Mathis (1999-present).
Judging Amy (1999-present).
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present).
Passions (1999-present).
Rocket Power (1999-present).
Shocking Behavior: Caught on Tape (1999-present).
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999-present).
Tenacious D (1999-present).
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004).
The Sopranos (1999-present).
The West Wing (1999-present).
Third Watch (1999-present).
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (US) (1999-present).
2000s
As Told by Ginger (
2000-present).
Boston Public (2000-2004).
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000-present).
*
' (2000-present).
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-present).
Ed (2000-2004).
Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006).
Survivor (2000-present).
The District (2000-2004).
The Gavin Crawford Show (2000-2002).
The Weakest Link (UK) (2000-present).
Yes, Dear (2000-2006).
Clocking Off (UK) (2000-2003).
Absolutely Fabulous (UK) (1992-1996, 2001-2003
).
Crossroads (UK) (1964-1988, 2001-2003
).
Home Movies (1999, 2001-present
).
Let's Bowl (1998, 2001-2002
).
Only Fools and Horses (UK) (1981-1983, 1985-1993, 1996-1997, 2001-2003
') (the only episode aired this year was the Christmas special If They Could See Us Now'').
*
February 14 -
The Wheezer Bros. (1995-2001). The last four episodes were not shown until 2004.
*
March 26 -
WCW Monday Nitro (1995-2001)
*
March 7 -
Bette (2000-2001).
*
May 14 -
Baywatch (1989-2001).
*
May 23 -
Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).
*
June 25 -
Daria (1997-2001).
*
July 3 -
Masterchef (UK) (1990-2001).
*July -
100% (game show) (UK) (1997-2001).
Disney's One Saturday Morning (1997-2001).
Teletubbies (UK) (1997-2001).
CatDog (1998-2001).
Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998-2001, 2006-present).
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, from
The WB to
UPN.
Roswell, from
The WB to
UPN.
Home Movies, from
UPN to
Cartoon Network.
Candid Camera, from
CBS to
PAX.
Rescue Heroes, from
CBS to
Kids' WB!*
April 30 -
On Golden Pond, an adaptation of the play, starring
Julie Andrews and
Christopher Plummer, working together for the first time since the film
The Sound of Music, is aired live on CBS.
*
November 18 -
The Facts of Life Reunion, reunion of cast members from the 1979-1988
NBC sitcom (though this movie aired on
ABC).
*
March 12 -
Morton Downey, Jr., 67,
television personality.
*
March 21 -
Norma MacMillan, 79,
voice actor.
*
March 22 -
William Hanna, 90, cofounder (with
Joseph Barbera) of famous
Hanna-Barbera animation studio.
*
April 11 -
George Hersee, 76, BBC engineer who designed
Test Card F.
*
April 15 -
Joey Ramone, 49,
actor/songwriter of
the Ramones.
*
June 21 -
Carroll O'Connor, 76, actor who played
Archie Bunker on
All in the Family.
*
August 4 -
Lorenzo Music, 64, writer and actor who co-created
The Bob Newhart Show and did the voices of Carlton the doorman on
Rhoda and
Garfield the cat in the
animated cartoon Garfield and Friends.
